262 LAND BIRDS 



697. AMERICAN FIPIT. — Anthus ruhescens. 

 Family : The Wagtails. 



Length: 6.00-7.00. 



Adults in Summer : Upper parts brownish gray, more or less indistinctly 



streaked ; wings dusky, with two buffy wing-bars and light edgings ; 



tail dusky; inner web of outside feathers white, second feather buffy; 



chin light cream-buif ; under parts buff, streaked with dusky on 



chest. 

 Adults in Winter: Upper parts decidedly browner; under parts lighter, 



streaks on breast usually broader. 

 Young : Upper parts dull brownish gray ; under parts dull brownish 



white ; chest spotted or broadly streaked with blackish. 

 Geographical Distribution : Whole of North America ; migrates in winter 



to Gulf States and California. 

 Breeding Range : From about the timber line in the Colorado mountains, 



north to the Arctic coast. 

 Nest : Bulky and rather compact ; composed of dried mosses, grasses, 



etc. ; lined with hair, feathers, etc. ; placed on the ground. 

 Eggs: 4 to 6 ; dark chocolate-color, surface nearly covered with grayish 



brown specks and streaks. Size 0.76 X 0.56. 



During migration and in the winter the American 

 Pipit occurs in flocks on the large open stretches of 

 country along the coast and interior valleys of California. 

 Wherever fire has swept over the grass, or the plough- 

 man has turned the sod, these dull-colored little birds 

 alight in numbers and walk about picking up food with 

 dainty teetering of head and tail. If alarmed, they rise 

 with one accord high into the air, but, instead of flying 

 away to another meadow, they usually come back to 

 finish their feast as if it were only a foolish fright after 

 all. Their plaintive note is a softer edition of the loud 

 "kill-dee" of the plover, and is uttered constantly as 

 the birds circle over their feeding ground or fly from 

 one locality to another. 



